86 Points Wine Enthusiast (2011 vintage)“A purple tint and aromas of black fruits, graphite, toast and minerally crispness set the bar high, but in the mouth and on the palate things are less impressive. There’s a raw, acidic bite despite oaky creaminess, while flavors of wild berry and herbs finish a bit green.” M.S. (12/31/2013)

This Malbec features an intense dark purplish red that shows maturity. On the nose it is complex – ripe red fruit aromas such as currants, plums and sour cherries melt with some spicy hints. Due to ageing in oak casks some vanilla, bitter chocolate and coffee notes are shown. The mouth-feel is pleasant and well balanced. The long, lingering finish is dominated by sweet, velvety tannins.

89 Points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (2010 vintage).“The 2010 Saurus Select Malbec is a little reticent on the nose despite coaxing. The palate is medium-bodied with a terse, saline-tinged entry. It does not really build in the mouth, although there is a keen thread of acidity and pleasant smoky notes towards the controlled, reserved finish.” Drink now-2016.

Deep red colour with some hint of violet. Full ripened fruit aromas with strong plum and cassis gently backed with floral and spiced nuances. Delicate hints of vanilla and chocolate, a soft and elegant wine with a long lingering finish.

88 Points Wine Enthusiast.“Dark, piercing, crusty black fruit aromas suggest burnt toast and lemon, and although there’s a lemony bite to the palate, once it airs out chunky black fruit flavors take over. Not a thriller but it’s pure and clean. Textbook mid-to-upper-level Malbec with some flair. M.S.” (8/1/2010)

Deep red tones to the eye and the nose has plenty of floral aromas, like roses and violets combined with red fruit scents such as red currants, raspberries and strawberries. Mushrooms and mineral aromas stand out together with some vanilla and cocoa notes. This medium-bodied Pinot Noir presents ultra fine tannins and fruity nuances that wave through a finish of superior depth and dimension.

Domaine Perrin is a reputable family owned and run négociant business situated in the Southern Rhone. They are owners of the famous Châteauneuf-du-Pape estate Château de Beaucastel along with other well-known estates such as Mirival in Provence.

The Wine
The Family’s other Châteauneuf! Les Sinards comes from the young vines at Beaucastel and from a neighbouring vineyard that they farm.

The 2014 Châteauneuf du Pape les Sinards is a solid effort in the vintage and while it functions as a young vine/second wine cuvee for the Perrin Family, it trumps many an estate’s top cuvee. Floral, elegant and perfumed with lively notes of plums, blackberry, underbrush, pepper and licorice, it has good acidity, medium-bodied richness and outstanding length. It will drink nicely for 7-8 years. – Robert Parker, Wine Advocate.

Produced on sandy soils, which cover a small part of the appellation, Grenache expresses great softness and is very aromatic without being heavy. This wine is full bodied but with finesse at the same time.

This 2014 is full of promises. A complex nose with rich notes of red and black fruit, the mouth is rich with a powerful and generous attack and the tannic texture is already balanced and elegant, with a long, racy finish.

Note: 90/100

The Globe And Mail, Beppi Crosariol – 05/10/2017

From a great southern Rhône appellation (that would be Gigondas) and a great producer, this displays more elegance and less of the more typical Gigondas power. Full and seamlessly textured, it’s fully but not overly ripe, with juicy cherry-like fruit, a meaty essence and light, chewy tannins. Worth cellaring for up to six years.

Note: 89/100

Wine Discovery, Tim Appelt – 01/10/2017

Pretty aromas of violets, sage, ripe cherry and plum fruit are layered over a dusting of oak spice. While the fruit shows some jammy character on the palate, and the alcohol is slightly warm, there is enough acidity to keep the fruit juicy and bright overall, complementing the fine but mouthcoating tannins, and drying the finish. Some weight, but also some poise and refinement.

Note: 90/100

Wine Advocate – 03/03/2016

The 2014 Gigondas la Gille comes almost all from estate fruit (there’s some very old vine fruit from Franck Alexandre), and comes all from sandy soils,
vinified with a more gentle extraction than the Beaucastel releases. From a difficult vintage, it’s a smokin’ wine that offers elegant, perfumed notes of kirsch, bouquet garni and black cherries on the nose. These give way to a midum-bodied, supple, seamless Gigondas that has more upfront charm and character than most in the vintage. While I doubt it will make old bones, it will certainly evolve nicely on its overall balance and harmony.

The 2014 vintage is unexpected for the region. A mild and wet winter, a hot and dry spring and temperate and humid summer characterizes this vintage. An atypical year, a winemaker’s vintage. Bud-break took place very early and flowering was carried out in ideal conditions and fruit set was excellent, especially on Grenache. However, work in the vineyards and constant monitoring were necessary all the way through to harvest. The months of July and August were humid favouring growth.

This beautiful vintage shows a beautiful blend between Syrah and Grenache. Great freshness, delicate notes of fresh black fruit slightly over-ripe, sweet spices. The generous mouth, offers elegant tannins full of finesse and the finish is full of character, firm and mineral.

Ruby red with purple highlights in color, the wine shows intense and ample aromas of red fruit, chocolate, and mint. The palate is balanced, of good body with velvety tannins, and the finish and aftertaste recall the aromas first felt on the nose.

Beautiful cherry red hue with dark black tints. Aromas of undergrowth, garrigue and a touch of mint on the first nose. The wine is honest and clean on entry, with notes of game and mushrooms. Spicy notes of thyme, rosemary and lavender come through after the glass is swirled a few times. The tannins are prominent and reveal ripe fruit aromas. This wine has a very strong personality yet expresses itself with finesse and elegance.

The nose leads with cinnamon, vanilla and more red fruits than the typical dark cherry from this warmer 2013 vintage. A soft and comforting mouthfeel that is broad and expansive. Being a blend of our three Bannockburn vineyards, this contributes various layers of generous ripe fruits and creamy textural elements. The wine has a pleasant rusticity to the structure adding complexity and depth. Hints of liquorice on the long enveloping finish. Can be enjoyed now for a more youthful expression but will evolve and develop over the next 10 years.

A ruby red wine, very brilliant, with medium to high colour intensity and slightly tinted legs. Very intense on the nose, with initially complex, mineral aromas originating from the soil. This is followed by notes reminiscent of cigar boxes and sweet dairy products, with a hint of black fruits and orange peel; very elegant. Very intense in the mouth; a spirited wine with good acidity and medium strength on the palate. A friendly, enveloping sensation in the mouth, with a fruity and mildly spiced finish. Enjoy with Stews and casseroles.

Bodegas la EmperatrizBodegas la Emperatriz is great find. A picturesque estate in the heart of Rioja Alta which has been winning awards since the Paris Universal Exposition of 1878, when it was owned by the last empress of France, Eugenia de Montijo. Now owned by the Hernaiz family since 1996, the estate boasts 67 years old vine Garnacha and Viura, and produces Rioja’s only single estate Crianza. Their wines have proved a huge hit with wine critics across the globe and are widely listed in Madrid’s Michelin starred restaurants.

89 Points Wine Enthusiast (2011 vintage)“Mouthfuls of black cherry, raspberry, nutmeg and cinnamon abound in this wine. It boasts a beautiful structure coupled with elegant freshness. Drink now through the next few years.” K.O. (11/1/2013)

87 Points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.“The 2011 Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore shows a delicate and almost ethereal side to Ripasso that is otherwise very difficult to find in this category of hearty Italian red wine. Leather, tobacco, spicy oak and molasses frame lighter nuances of forest berry and cassis. The mouthfeel is crisp and lean.”

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.“The Giuseppe Campagnola brand has existed since 1907 and has seen five generations at the helm of its winemaking operations. Today, the estate buys fruit from more than 50 growers who collectively farm 80 hectares in the area, 30 of which are located in Valpolicella. The Campagnola brand refers to various wines made in the Verona area and the Caterina Zardini brand is specifically for wines made in Valpolicella.”

84 Points Wine Enthusiast (2011 vintage)“This wine is a blend created using grapes sourced from vineyard sites, giving it a ripe, full-bodied character. It is smooth, almost New-World in style, but with an edge of tannins and acidity. Drink this wine now.” — R.V. (12/1/2012)

“Still young and showing fresh fruitiness, this wine needs time to calm down and broaden out. Made of four classic varieties in the Esporão vineyard, it’s dense, stalky and still full of tannins. Give this wine until 2016.”

A deep purple tint on the rim with delicious flavours of ripe strawberry, banana, juicy plums and rich, red cherry. Produced in an early drinking style with well integrated wood and a soft, smooth finish.

Klippenkop is an export label of the Robertson Winery situated in the Cape Winelands.

Established in 1941, Robertson Winery is recognised today as one of South Africa’s leading cellars. The fertile Robertson Valley with its variety of meso-climates and soil conditions create a wide spectrum of terroirs, allowing the estate to produce an exciting diversity of wine styles.

The winery has a long-standing tradition of dedicated grape-growing families, some of whom are 4th generation growers. Today, no less than 35 families, cultivating some 1900 hectares of vine, take pride in contributing to the success of the winery. Working in close partnership with our viticulturist, Briaan Stipp, they are committed to identifying the vineyard sites best suited to specific cultivars and to nurturing the grapes to optimum flavour and varietal character.

The fruit was sourced from 35 specially selected grape growing families in the Robertson Valley. Vines are grown in deep cool alluvial soil that is rich in lime and receives an annual rainfall of only 280 mm per year. Fruit was harvested very early in the morning from the last week of February to the middle of March. The Chenin Blanc vines are planted on the riverbanks with a row direction from northwest to southeast to utilize the prevailing sea breeze. The sea breeze cools down the fruit, extends the ripening period and builds up concentrated flavours in the grapes. The average annual rainfall is supplemented by controlled drip irrigation from the Breede River.

Gentle pressing of the grapes followed by using a Pneumatic bag press to capture the delicate fruit component. The wine was made reductively to prevent any oxidation and to ensure that natural flavours of the grapes could be retained. Fermentation happened slowly in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks for 18 days at 13¢ªC.

Savoury, minerally flavours from old vine Garnacha and Cariñena are complemented by the smokiness and backbone of the Syrah and Cabernet. A month’s contact with French Oak staves adds a touch of vanilla and complexity.

The Charge red is made from grapes from all over the Rioja region – 75% Tempranillo, 25% Garnacha. Aromas of berries and warm spices which leads to a palate with beautifully complex dark and spicy fruit and refreshing acidity, balanced by fine vanilla flavours from oak maturation, as well as hints of coffee.